Speculate no more: Michael Hurley will be at Essendon for the next six AFL seasons.Essendon have emphatically ended talk of the All-Australian defender leaving the club by signing him up on a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $800,000 a season.In doing so, the Bombers have announced themselves as finals aspirants - and more - for 2017.Just hours after coach John Worsfold said he couldnt even arrange a coffee with Hurley, the club announced the 26-year-old came to an agreement after arriving home from an overseas holiday.Hurley said he felt at home at the club, and excited about the progress they have made under Worsfold this season.I took the time I needed to come to this decision, and to be honest I couldnt see my future anywhere other than Essendon, Hurley said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.What became clear was my strong bond with the playing group, I have some really great mates at the club, weve made a lot of progress and I want to achieve success alongside them.John has had a huge impact in a short period of time and Im looking forward to playing under him next season and beyond.Earlier on Thursday, Worsfold told reporters he was only fairly confident that Hurley would re-sign after weeks of speculation that the in-demand defender could find a new AFL home.I sent him a message the other day, Worsfold said.I thought he was overseas because he hadnt responded yet ... Im hoping to hear from him and organise a time to catch up fairly soon.We all know the situation has been extraordinary so hes had to weigh all that up.Three hours later, Hurley signed on the dotted line.A club spokesman said negotiations were taking place between the club and the players management, without Worsfold.Whatever the funny business, the Bombers are delighted to secure a player crucial to their long-term future, even if theyve had to pay through the nose for him.Bombers chief executive Xavier Campbell said the club always believed they would retain his services.Weve always felt confident Michael would remain at the club due to the positive discussions we had with him and his management, and Im sure our members will be thrilled to see him don the sash again in 2017, he said.Eight of the dozen banned Bombers - Dyson Heppell, Tom Bellchambers, Cale Hooker, Heath Hocking, Travis Colyer, David Myers, Brent Stanton and Hurley - have now re-committed to Essendon.Four - Jobe Watson, Michael Hibberd, Ben Howlett and Tayte Pears - are yet to agree new deals to stay. 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Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers can draw a degree of inspiration from the Kansas City Chiefs.But how much weight that carries might depend on the result between the teams Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.The Panthers have won two games in a row since starting the season with only one victory across their first six games. A year ago, the Chiefs were 1-5 before rebounding to make the playoffs.It has been done before, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said, referring to the Chiefs responding from a miserable start.For as much commotion as Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has caused around the NFL the past couple of weeks regarding officiating and a dialogue with commissioner Roger Goodell, the Chiefs have their own quarterback news.Thats because Alex Smith, who missed a game with what was listed as a head/ear injury, will be back in action.I feel like I can go through a normal week, Smith said. Im pumped to get back and get going.Smith missed the victory against Jacksonville, with Nick Foles filling in. But the Chiefs (6-2) count on Smith, and thats part of the reason why coach Andy Reid said he thought it was best that he take a week off after hitting his head hard in a game against the Indianapolis Colts.The Chiefs look comfortable when Smith has been at the controls.He runs their offense very well and he has some pretty good weapons around him, Rivera said.Smith also will have the services of running back Spencer Ware, who has been cleared from the leagues concussion protocol. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (groin), however, will not play, joining defensive end Jaye Howard (hip) on the sideline. Linebacker Justin Houston (knee) is unlikely to make his return as well.Having all the available big-play threats is something that the Chiefs figure they might need this week because Carolinas defense.It jumps out on film how strong they are, Smith said. Theyve played a lot of football at a high level.The Panthers (3-5) are coming off victories against Arizona and the Los Angeles Rams (3-5).You could say theyre back on track, Reid said.Still, the Panthers have an uphill climb in the NFC South, but its not something theyre coonsumed with at the moment.ddddddddddddWeve been focusing on one game at a time and that has been our approach and were not going to change that, Rivera said.The past two weeks, Newton said the Panthers have reaped the rewards that come with putting in the work.We knew we were doing the proper things, Newton said. We were still trying to have the winning ingredients.Newton has been at the center of whats an ongoing conversation regarding protection of quarterbacks, particularly after he called out NFL officiating for what he claimed was putting him in unsafe situations after the most recent home game.Newton said he doesnt want to be caught up in that or other topics that could be distractions.My job is to win football games, not grade myself, he said.Yet Newtons protection is one of the key components for Carolinas game plan.Weve got to keep our pocket clean for our quarterback, Rivera said.Newton said the Chiefs have a very opportunistic defense and we have to control the line of scrimmage. I think thats one of the challenges of the game.Newton said struggles on offense have popped up frequently, pinning the responsibility on the Panthers.We have to have answers, he said. It doesnt matter what defense is called.Carolinas injury situation seemed unclear, with center Ryan Kalil and linebacker Shaq Thompson listed as questionable.Linebacker Thomas Davis 12 tackles and one interception against the Rams were a boost for the Carolina defense while linebacker A.J. Klein filled in for Thompson.Rivera said the Panthers appeared to be a fatigued team, something he attributed to coming off the West Coast trip. He said the energy level will need to be high by the weekend when encountering the Chiefs.Rivera said he can tie some of his success as a coach to spending time on Reids staff with the Philadelphia Eagles. Rivera was the linebackers coach under Reid from 1999 to 2003.This will be only the sixth meeting between the teams, with Kansas City winning the most recent matchup 27-21 in December 2012 at home. ' ' '